Photographed in the artist’s grandmother’s hometown, this project explores the youth generation of Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria is known to be conservative in regards to the way in which males and females dress, though the younger generation does not necessarily adhere to these traditions. They express themselves far more artistically, often through fashion. Nadine Ijewere captures this in this series of portraits.

The title 9-ja_17 is a play on using “text language” to support a modern contemporary project photographing street-casted young Nigerians who were also connected and very much about being creative. A collaboration with stylist Ib Kamara, 9-ja_17 also champions the reoccurring theme of diversity and identity within Ijewere’s work. The project was first unveiled in the New Africa Photography show at Red Hook Labs.

During the day, 9-ja_17 can be viewed on monitors inside the ICP Museum and during evening hours, images are literally “projected” onto the windows of the ICP Museum; they can be viewed from the sidewalk outside the Museum and are most visible after sunset. Learn more about Projected.

About the Artist

Nadine Ijewere is a southeast London–born photographer. Her work focuses primarily on the subjects of identity and diversity, informed by her own Nigerian and Jamaican background.

She is drawn to non-traditional faces with the aim of showcasing a new standard of beauty and giving life to the uniqueness of disparate cultures.

TOP IMAGE: © Nadine Ijewere